Chapter 60: Super Ball Rank
After Aunt Abigail left, Victor pushed forward with his winning streak, climbing from seven consecutive victories to nine. Now, he was only one match away from being promoted to the Super Ball level.
The matchmaking system quickly paired him with an opponent.
Curious, Victor clicked on the opponent's profile. The avatar showed a middle-aged man holding a peculiar square plush doll, smiling brightly. The personal profile read:
[What you love is your life.]
Victor froze. Wait… isn't this… that uncle?
The quote in the profile sent his thoughts spinning. Wasn't this the same saying made famous by a certain legendary internet figure?
Could it really be him? The very embodiment of that timeless wisdom?
(It may be (bright) in the future, but it will never be (dull)!)
Victor's mind raced with disbelief. Could this iconic figure truly exist in the Pokémon world?
Moments later, the man in question arrived at the battlefield. Victor's jaw nearly dropped when he saw the middle-aged man in person. He looked exactly like the chairman of the BI-site from his memories.
The man walked up and gave Victor a scrutinizing look.
"Little Friend, are you my opponent?" the uncle asked with a friendly smile.
"Yes, hello! Please give me your guidance." Victor stepped forward and extended his hand for a pre-battle handshake.
The middle-aged man shook Victor's hand warmly. "Uncle here recently fell from the Super Ball level. Just send out your strongest Pokémon, little friend."
Craig, the middle-aged trainer, took in the sight of Victor—a boy no older than 17 or 18—and decided he needed to prepare him mentally for a challenging match.
Victor raised an eyebrow. Something felt off. This man was clearly a local trainer from SeawindCove City—how could he not know about Victor's recent battle with Jasmine, the city's Gym Leader? His previous opponents had all recognized him, with many even asking for photos.
"Uncle, didn't you see the Junior Gym Challenge last week?" Victor asked.
For the record, Victor wasn't being vain. It was simply surprising that someone entrenched in the local trainer community wouldn't have heard about it, given the heavy publicity surrounding the event.
"Oh, that? I was on a business trip and haven't had time to watch the recording," Craig replied nonchalantly.
So he really doesn't know.
The two wrapped up their conversation as the Rotom referee hovered into place, ready to begin the match.
Before heading to his side of the battlefield, Craig turned back to Victor. "Although you're young, uncle here will fight with all his strength. I won't hold back!"
Victor nodded confidently. "Of course! Uncle, I'm strong too, so don't underestimate me!"
The Rotom referee, visibly impatient from the lengthy pre-battle chatter, finally announced the rules of the match.
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[This match is recognized as an official match of the crimson League Pokémon Ranked Tournament at the Poké Ball level.]
[Battle: Su Hao vs. Craig.]
[Rules: Each side uses only one Pokémon.]
[Both trainers, release your Pokémon!]
"Go ahead, the elegant water spirit, Milotic!"
"Go, Raichu (Alolan Form)!"
This time, Milotic debuted with an upgraded flair. Mist swirled gracefully around her, while the gradient hues of her scales reflected the arena lights, making her appear as a goddess cloaked in an enchanting veil.
Craig's Pokémon was not a regular Raichu but an Alolan Raichu—an Electric and Psychic dual-type Pokémon native to the Hawaii-like region of Alola.
Raichu (Alolan Form) Details:
Attributes: Electric + Psychic
Gender: Male (♂)
Ability: Surge Surfer (Doubles speed in Electric Terrain.)
Level: 33
Item: Magnet
Moves:
Psychic
Thunderbolt
Calm Mind
Agility
Thunder Wave
Electric Terrain
Alolan Raichu, nicknamed the "Land Surfer," is known for using its psychic powers to levitate and surf on its tail. It combines its psychic abilities with electrical energy, delivering star-shaped Thunderbolts.
It also has a unique trait where its cheeks emit a sweet waffle-like aroma when rubbed, though this can cause mild numbing sensations—likely tied to its psychic nature.
"An elite-level Raichu with a specialized moveset? No wonder this uncle can reach the Super Ball level," Victor thought.
The match was about to begin. The stage was set: Milotic, the embodiment of elegance, versus Alolan Raichu, the agile psychic-electric battler.
The Rotom referee floated forward.
[The battle begins!]
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Victor sized up Raichu, who floated in the air on its tail like a seasoned surfer. He analyzed the likely strategy of the opponent: activating Electric Terrain to boost speed via Surge Surfer, then using powered-up Electric-type moves to overwhelm the competition.
His plan formed swiftly.
The Rotom referee buzzed into action.
[Both sides are in position. The battle begins!]
"Raichu, Electric Terrain!" Craig commanded confidently. He believed no matter how graceful Milotic looked, Water-types couldn't hold up against Electric-types.
Craig smirked. "Milotic, Light Screen!"
Electric currents surged across the battlefield, transforming it into a pulsating ocean of electricity. Meanwhile, Milotic's elegant form shimmered as a soft pink barrier materialized before her.
Through his system, victor had already identified Raichu's strategy—maximize speed in Electric Terrain and dish out enhanced special attacks. But this time, victor decided to play defensively, showcasing Milotic's endurance.
"Raichu, Thunderbolt after Agility!"
Raichu's speed doubled in an instant, further enhanced by Electric Terrain. The Thunderbolt attack followed, crackling like a starburst as it bypassed the Light Screen and struck Milotic.
The damage was significant due to type advantage, but Milotic's serene demeanor remained unshaken.
"Milotic, Aqua Ring!" Su Hao instructed.
Mist enveloped Milotic as a soothing glow surrounded her, rapidly restoring the health she had just lost.
Craig frowned, watching Milotic tank repeated Thunderbolts while effortlessly healing. Raichu's high-speed movements left Milotic unable to counterattack directly, but victor was biding his time.
"Raichu, Thunder Wave!"
Craig's plan was simple—paralyze Milotic to disrupt her healing rhythm.
Yet, the Thunder Wave hit Milotic without effect.
"Missed?" Craig muttered, perplexed. But he knew it had landed cleanly.
Victor smiled knowingly. Thanks to the protective blessings from Latios and Latias, Milotic was immune to status conditions from opponents below their level.
With no other options, Craig decided to end it with an all-out attack.
"Raichu, Electric Terrain Boosted Volt Crash!"
The battlefield lit up with golden electricity as the energy of the Electric Terrain condensed into a massive beam, roaring toward Milotic.
"Milotic, Mirror Coat!"
A shimmering layer of energy formed around Milotic just as the golden beam struck her. The sound of crackling electricity filled the air, but Milotic endured, her Light Screen mitigating the blow.
Then came the counterattack.
The stored energy from Mirror Coat transformed into a cascade of rainbow-hued needles, each homing in on Raichu. Despite Raichu's attempts to evade, the relentless needles struck true, puncturing its defenses.
A deafening explosion shook the arena, and as the smoke cleared, Raichu's defeated form tumbled from the sky.
[Raichu loses the ability to fight. Milotic wins!]
[Poké Ball-level battle winner: Player Victor!]
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Craig stared at Milotic with a mixture of awe and disbelief. "Your Milotic is something special, kid."
Victor smiled politely. "Thank you. It was a good battle."
With this victory, Victor's rank would soon ascend to the Super Ball tier.